Building a Bacterial Biosensor for the Detection of Synthetic Opioids

Maffeo, Amanda Marie

Student Work

Building a Bacterial Biosensor for the Detection of Synthetic Opioids Public

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, 50 to 100 times more potent than heroin and morphine. Many biosensors used for the detection of narcotics today are expensive and limited. To detect fentanyl in aqueous samples, we designed a fentanyl-responsive genetic circuit in E. coli. The efficiency and sustainability of genetic circuit induction under low nutrient conditions was tested. The fentanyl biosensor allows traces of drugs to be detected within community water sources allowing monitoring of narcotics use.

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